Atomized inhalation of Icaritin reduces airway inflammation and remodeling in asthmatic mice

Abstract

Background

Asthma is a disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation. Icaritin (ICT) is a plant hormone with various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, and anti-tumor. This study mainly explored the effects of nebulized inhalation of ICT on airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthmatic mice.

Method

Different groups of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mice with acute and chronic airway inflammation received ICT. Asthmatic mice received budesonide (BDND) aerosol inhalation as a positive control, while normal control and asthma model mice received the same volume of saline. Following finishing of the study, analyses were conducted on behavioral tests, biochemical indices, and histological structures of lung tissues.

Results

Aerosol inhalation of ICT can notably reduce inflammatory cells infiltration around the airways and pulmonary vessels, and suppressed goblet cell hyperplasia in asthmatic mice. Long-term inhalation of ICT can decrease airway collagen deposition and airway smooth muscle hyperplasia, and alleviate airway hyperresponsiveness, mirroring the effects observed with hormone employed in clinical practice.

Conclusion

Nebulized inhalation of ICT can effectively inhibit airway inflammation in asthmatic mice, improve airway remodeling, and reduce airway hyperresponsiveness, with effects similar to those of hormones. It may serve as a potential candidate used as a hormone replacement asthma treatment.

Keywords:

• Epimedium Linn
• icaritin
• asthma
• inflammation
• nebulized inhalation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.82160008, No.81760007 and No. 32301132), Foundation of National Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai) SHU Branch (Grant No. SUITM-2023004), Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province (No.2023GXNSFAA026454), Open Project of State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease (SKLRD-OP-202110), Thousand young and middle-aged backbone teachers training program of Guangxi Colleges and Universities and Guangxi Medical and Health Key Discipline Construction Project.